Alstroemeria plant named ‘Teskani’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Teskani’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense and bushy appearance; large and numerous salmon red and pink-colored flowers held above the foliar plane on relatively short flower pedicels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESKANI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Teskani’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering potted garden Alstroemeria plants with uniform plant habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in April, 2005 of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number G106, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PD512, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in February, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since April, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Teskani’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Teskani’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded         plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth         habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense         and bushy appearance.     -   4. Large and numerous salmon red and pink-colored flowers held         above the foliar plane on relatively short flower pedicels.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller leaves than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent         selection in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have shorter flower pedicels         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection         in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pink         and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesrobin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,354. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of ‘Tesrobin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller leaves than         plants of ‘Tesrobin’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Tesrobin’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Tesrobin’ have red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Teskani’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria plant grown during the winter and early spring in four-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Kudelstaart, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. and light levels averaged 7,000 lux. Plants were 21 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Teskani’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number G106, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PD512, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven             weeks at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight             weeks at 16° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Rhizome length.—About 3 cm.         -   Rhizome diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Rhizome texture.—Smooth.         -   Rhizome color.—Close to 195A to 195B. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright,             somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant             habit; broad inverted triangle; freely branching habit with             about 13 primary lateral branches developing per plant;             relatively short internodes, dense and bushy appearance;             sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 33.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Length.—About 11.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 7 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle.         -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B; waxy cuticle, between 145A and             147D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate; twisting.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Facing downward,             close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Facing             upright, close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Facing downward, between N138B and 189A; venation,             close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Facing             upright, between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 144A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Color:             Close to 143A; margins, close to 137A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged             in compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly to             upright; perianth segments separate; freely flowering habit             with about twelve flowers developing per inflorescence and             about 160 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after planting; flowering continuous from summer into             the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 143C; distally, close to             N137C; base, close to 149C; upper surface of flower bud             tinged with between 152A and 177D.         -   Umbel height.—About 10.4 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 13.9 cm.         -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 6.1 cm.         -   Flower length (vertical).—About 6.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six segments arranged in two whorls,             each whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size,             inner perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.3 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.1 cm. Length, median             segments: About 5.6 cm. Width, median segments: About             2.3 cm. Size, outer perianth: Length, lateral segments:             About 5.5 cm. Width, lateral segments: About 3.4 cm. Length,             median segments: About 6 cm. Width, median segments: About             3.5 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median             segments: Abruptly acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and             median segments: Emarginate. Base, inner perianth, lateral             and median segments: Narrowly cuneate. Base, outer perianth,             lateral and median segments: Long cuneate. Margin, inner             perianth, lateral and median segments: Entire. Margin, outer             perianth, lateral and median segments: Towards the apex,             finely serrate; towards the base, entire. Texture, inner and             outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety. Color, inner perianth: When             opening, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 1D;             towards the apex, close to 47A; apex, close to N144D; spots,             close to 200D. When opening, median segments, upper surface:             Close to 50B; apex, close to N144D; towards the base, close             to 50C. When opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Close             to 154D; towards the apex, close to 47B; apex, close to             N144D; spots, close to 197A. When opening, median segments,             lower surface: Close to 51B; apex, close to N144D; towards             the base, close to 51D. Fully opened, lateral segments,             upper surface: Close to 2D; towards the apex, close to 51A;             apex, close to 143B; spots, close to 200D. Fully opened,             median segments, upper surface: Close to 51A; apex, close to             N144D; towards the base, close to 48B to 48C. Fully opened,             lateral segments, lower surface: Close to 2C and 2D; towards             the apex, close to 51B to 51C; apex, close to 143A; center,             close to 45C; towards the base, close to 35C; spots, close             to 197A. Fully opened, median segments, lower surface: Close             to 54B to 54C; apex, close to N144D; center, close to 47A to             47B; towards the base, close to 51D. Color, outer perianth:             When opening, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 50A;             apex, close to 143A; towards the base, close to N155D. When             opening, median segments, upper surface: Close to 50A and             51A; apex, close to 143A; towards the base, close to N155D.             When opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Close to 51B;             apex, close to 143A; towards the base, close to 56D. When             opening, median segments, lower surface: Close to 52B; apex,             close to 143A. Fully opened, lateral segments, upper             surface: Close to 52B; apex, close to 143A; towards the             base, close to 56A to 56B. Fully opened, median segments,             upper surface: Close to 52B; apex, close to 143A; towards             the base, close to 56C to 56D. Fully opened, lateral             segments, lower surface: Close to 52B and 52C; apex, close             to 143A; towards the base, close to 52C and 55C. Fully             opened, median segments, lower surface: Close to 54B; apex,             close to 143A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 20° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B; waxy cuticle, close             to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 3.9 cm. Filament color: Close to 51B.             Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             color: Close to 152A to 152B. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 201A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 4 cm. Style length: About 3.6 cm.             Style color: Close to 51B; towards the base, close to 51C.             Stigma shape: Tri-parted; parts, club-shaped, curved. Stigma             color: Close to 49C to 49D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,     high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 8. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Teskani’ as illustrated and described. 